Producing motor-fuel.



W. A. HALL.

PRODUCING MOTOR FUEL.

APPLICATION FILED mm, 1914.

Patented Oct. 9, 917.

WILLIAM AUGUSTUS HALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRODUCING MOTOR-FUEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0a. 9, 1917.

Application-filed April 4, 1914. Serial No. 829.634.

To all ulmm it may ('um-c'rn:

lie it known that. I, \VILIJAM AUcUs'rUs ll.\l.1., a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of New York, United States of America. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes of Producing Motor-Fuel, of which the following is a specification.

lhis invention relates to an improved process for the production from heavyhydrocarbons of liquid fuels in the form of motor spirit suitable for use in the usual carburetors of internal combustion engines and to the apparatus employed in said process.

I take any cheap hydrocarbon, for instance. a. distillate such as a gas oil of -.l0 to 44 Be, and a boiling point of about 110 C.

I subject this hydrocarbon to a tempera ture of about 650 under a pressure of about 70 pounds per square inch in a suitable coil of pipe, whereby the oil is cracked and a considerable portion gasified. From this coil of pipe which I .term the converter the mixture of oil vapor and gasthus produced is passed through suitable coolers whereby the temperature of the mixture is lowered to about 200 and the mixture thus cooled is fractionally condensed in a suitable separator or separators,preferably with a material reduction of pressure. The amount of pressure maintained in the separator or separators may vary considerably, a pressure of 20 or 25 pounds per square inch (above atmospheric) being suitable.

The object of this-step is to remove from the gases and vapors, the major portion of those fractions, of which the boiling points are too high for use in the production of a motor fuel, for the purpose specified. The major portion of those fractions of the mixture which are non-volatile at about 200 0., are thus separated in a liquid state, from the remaining gases and vapors, Which gases and vapors. are then recompressed, at a temperature of approximately 200 (1., to a pressure of about 70pounds per square inch, by means of any suitable mechanical compressor, and then condensed under pressure in the cooler.

I have found that if the gases and vapors produced by cracking heavy hydrocarbons under the conditions above indicated and from which those fractions condensable at about 200 C. have here been separated by fractional condensation, are. maintained in contact with one another at a temperature say about 200 (X, and under a pressure of about 70 pounds per square inch or more and are then cooled together not only are the vapors of the liquid hydrocarbons condensed but that a considerable quantity of the easily liquefiable gaseous hydrocarbons are also condensed and that from the final condensed liquid these condensed gases (Whatever may be the reason whether chemical or otherwise) do not escape at ordinary temperatures.

Apparatus suitable for the performance of the improved process is illustrated diagrammatically in the figure of the accompanying drawing.

Referring to said drawings, 1 denotes a cracking apparatus or converter, 'contain ing a coil of pipe 2, in which the hydrocarbon oil is subjected to a temperature of abou 650 C., and under a pressure of 70 pounds per square inch,'more or less. This temperature is measured by a pyrometer 21, placed between the coils of pipe 2, as shown.

'Th'eheat is supplied by means of a burner 3, by which operation the oil is cracked and a considerable proportion thereofis gasified. From this converter a connection 4 leads to cooling coils 5 and 0, which may be cooled by air or by other suitable cooling fluid blown in through the tubes 7 and serving as coolers whereby the temperature of the mixture of oil vapor and gas is lowered to about 200 C. The mixture of gases and vapors, thus cooled, and also preferably reduced in pressure, and by suitably disposed valves,

including the valve 8, in the piping, is then fractionally condensed and separated in suitable separators 10 and 11, whereby those portions of the mixture, liquid at about 200 C. are extracted from the vapors and gases, in the form of a liquid. This liquid may be drawn off through the pipes 19 and 20, provided with suitable valves and with. suitable cooling means as illustrated. The gas and vapors pass by pipes 12 4 a acompressor 13 and are then forced through the pipe 14, which is surrounded by a cooling fluid, such as water, thence into the receptacle 15, Which is likewise water-jacketed, and in the parts 14 and 15, a pressure for example 70 pounds per square inch or more is. maintained .by means of the compressor 13.

Upon the amount of pressure employed in this'step, will depend, to a certain extent, the properties of the product. I

' In the preferred form of execution of the process, I lower the pressure considerably, so that during the first cooling operation, in the coolers 5 and 6, and in the traps 10 and 11, a pressure materially below that employed in the cracking operation prevails,

that is to say, the cracking operation is effected at a pressure of, sayabout 7 0 lbs.

per square inch. The pressure is then released and the gases and vapors cooled toabout 200 C., (or say to about 160 or 200 I (1), while at a low pressure, which may be atmospheric or slightlymore, under which conditions the solid carbon, tarry matters,

any uncracked oil' present, and substantially all products not volatile at the temperature of the cooling are condensed and separated,

- much simplified, and the maintenance of a uniform temperature at the outlet of the trap 11, and a uniform composition of this material, is made much easier.

By thus lowering the pressure and cooling to the desired temperature, substantially all of the free carbon and Very difiicultly volatile material separates in the first trap 10, and the material which separates in the second cooler and trap is free from solid carbon and free from coke-like material, and this second condensate (termed light residue) can be directly employed for making a second run through the apparatus, without filtration or other preliminary treatment. l

Another reason why ll prefer to lower the pressure during the preliminary condensation is the following: It is well known that the boiling point of a given liquid (and likewise the temperature at which the vapor of such liquid condenses to the liquid state) is dependent upon the existing pressure. Lowerifig the pressure lowers the boiling point.

oreover, by lowering the pressure during the condensation operation, it is possible to secure a much more accurate condensation, while removing the undesirable fractions, and while leaving in some of the desirable constituents which would be removed if the preliminary condensation were efiected at or near the conx erter pressure.

A pipe 17 serves to lead from the upper end of the condenser the non-condensable portion of the gases.

The cracking of oil under pressure by heat lower than indicated and the separation during distillation of the heavier fractions by fractional condensation are not in themselves new but it is the combination of these processes so carried out as to produce both vapors and gases together with the subsequent condensation under pressure of the mixed vaporsof liquid hydrocarbons and the easily liquefiable gaseous hydrocarbons which constitutes the essence of my inven-. tion. I

The modification of the process in which the pressure of the gases-and vapors is not lowered in the preliminary cooling step (separation of tarry matters) is included in the claims of my copending application Serial No. 824,194,,filed Mar. 12, 1914.

What I claim is:-

1 A process of making a 'motor fuel which comprises cracking hydrocarbon oils at a temperature of about 600 to 650 C., under a pressure of about pounds per square inch, thereafter cooling the resulting gases and vapors to about 200 (3., while said gases and vapors are at a lower pressure to separate the most readily condensable portions therefrom, increasing the pressure of the remaining gases and vapors, to a pressure of at least about 70 pounds per square inch, and thereafter cooling the mix ture of gases and vapors to condense the product. 1

2. A process'of making a motor fuel from an oil of high boiling points, which comprises cracking said oil under a pressure exceeding four'atmospheres, at a temperature of not less than about 600 0., thereby producing a mixture comprising gases and vapors of both high and low boiling points, thereafter lowering both the. temperature and pressure sufi'iciently to remove the fractions of higher boiling points, there after increasing the pressure to over four atmospheres and then further lowering the temperature suficiently to condense the product.

3. A process of producing a motor fuel from oil distillates having boiling points higher than gasolene, said process comprising, first, cracking said oil, under a pressure of about 70 pounds per squareinch, and at. a temperature materially above 500 (3., second, lowering the temperature of the gases and vapors to about 200 C., while allowing the pressureto drop somewhat; third, compressing the gases andvapors to a pressure of at least 70 pounds per square inch, and

fourth, cooling the same under said pressure, to condense the motor fuel.

4. A process of producing a motor fuel. which comprises cracking a hydrocarbon oil under a pressure materially above atmospheric at a temperature sufficient to form gases, and vapors of materials having high .boiling points. and unsaturated hydrocarbon vapors. then cooling the gases and vapors, at a pressure materially lower than that used in the cracking operation, to a temperature of above. 100 (1., but 'not above about 200 (1, to remove materials having higher boiling points, thereafter subjecting the remaining gases and vapors, at a temperature of 100 to 200 C., to apressure of not less than about pounds per square inch. and thereafter cooling the gases and vapors to condense the motor fuel.

5. A process of producing a motor fuel which comprises cracking a hydrocarbon oil under a pressure materially above atmospheric at a temperature sufficiently high to convert a portion of the oil into fixed gases, and to produce vapors containing considerable percentages of unsaturated hydrocarbons, cooling the vapors and gases. While under a pressure materially below that employed in the cracking operation, sufficiently to separate the portions having boiling points above about 200 0., thereafter subjecting the remaining gases and vapors, at a temperature of 100 to 200 C.. to a pressure materially above that used in the said cooling step, and then cooling the gases and vapors sufficiently to cause condensation of the motor fuel.

6. A process of making a motor fuel. which comprises cracking a mineral oil under high pressure, at a temperature above 500 C., cooling the gases and vapors,'whi-le at a pressure materially below that used in the cracking operation. to a temperature of not over about 200 C.. to separate out materials having high boiling points, further compressing the gases and vapors remaining from said cooling step. and cooling the gases and vapors while in said compressed state, to condense out the motor fuel.

7. A process of making a motorfuel which comprises cracking hydrocarbon oils at a temperature above 500 0., under a pressure of about '70 pounds per square inch, lowering the pressure of .the resulting gases and vapors. down to a pressure not greatly exceeding atmospheric, cooling the gases and vapors to a temperature below 200 C., but not materially below 100 0.. to separate the most readily condensable portions therefrom. recompressing the gases to a pressure of at least 70 pounds per square inch. and cooling the remaining gases and vapors. under said pressure.

8. A process of producing a motor fuel which comprises passing a current of hydrocarbon oil at a pressure of about 70 pounds per square inch through a pressure-resisting tortuous pipe, located in a furnace heated to approximately 600 (1.; reducing the pressure of the gases and vapors, while cooling the same to a temperature of about 200 C., and removing the condensed materials; recompressing the gases and vapors while materially above ordinary atmospheric temperature, to a pressure of approximately 70 pounds per square inch, and thereafter cooling the gases and vapors to condense the motor fuel.

9. A process of producing, from mineral oil, a liquid fuel suitable for use in interna combustion engines. consisting in cracking the oil under a pressure materially above atmospheric to produce gases and vapors, expanding such gases and vapors, and cooling the same to a temperature suflicientl low to condense out material not sufficiently volatile for use as motor fuel, removing such condensed material and thereafter subjecting the remaining gases and vapors, to an increase in pressure, while the gases are in aheated state. and condensing the product so formed.

10. A process of producing a motor fuel which comprises cracking oil under a pressure of several atmospheres at a high temperature to produce gases and vapors, releasing the pressure of the gases and vapors produced within a short time after their production. cooling said gases and vapors to separate such material as is not readily volatile, mechanically compressing the partially cooled, but still warm vapors and gases from which the fractions of high boiling points have been separated, cooling and condensing the products resulting from said compression, while under a pressure of several atmospheres.

11. A process of producing a liquid motor fuel, which comprises cracking an oil at a high temperature under a pressure, mate- 'rially above atmospheric, to produce gases and vapors, releasing the pressure of the gases and vapors shortly after their production, passing the gases and vapors through a dephlegmator to remove materials of relatively high boiling points from those of relatively low boiling points. mechanically compressing the vapors and gases remaining, and further cooling and condensing the products.

12. A process of producing a motor fuel which comprises (a) passing hydrocarbon oil containing fractions having higher boiling points than ordinary gasolene. in the form of a flowing current through a tubular retort under a pressure of approximately 70 pounds per square inch maintained at a temperature of about 650 whereby the oil is cracked and a considerable portion is gasified, (b) thereafter lowering the pressure to approximately atmospheric. lowering the temperature to approximately 200 (1., in order to condense and separate at least a portion of the products of high boiling points, (0) recompressing the gases and vapors to a pressure of approximately 70 pounds per square inch, while at a temperature of approximately 200 0., and thereafter ((l) cooling the remaining gases and vapors together, to condense out the motor fuel.

13. A process of making a motor fuel which comprises cracking a flowing current of hydrocarbon oil at a temperature of about 600 to 650 (1., under a pressure of about 7 0 pounds per square inch, thereafter cooling the resulting gases and vapors to about 200 while said gases and vapors are at a lower pressure than that used in the crack ing operation, to separate at least a portion of the most readily condensable fractions, increasing the pressure of the remaining gases and vapors, while still at a temperature abor e normal atmospheric temperature, to a pressure of at least about 7 0 pounds per square inch, and thereafter cooling the mixture of gases and vapors to condense the product.

14. A process of producing a motor fuel which comprises heating a flowing current of hydrocarbon oil containing fractions having higher boiling points than ordinary gasolene, under pressure materially above atmospheric, to a temperature capable of cracking the said oil with the production of permanent gases, lowering both the pressure and temperature of the gases and vapors thereby produced, sufficientl' to separate out fractions having boiling points too high for use in the production of a gasolene substitute, recompressing the remaining mixture of gases and vapors, while at a temperature materially above atmospheric, and thereafter cooling the remaining gases and vapors under superatmospheric pressure, to condense out the motor fuel.

15 A process of making a motor fuel from an oil of high boiling points which comprises cracking a flowing current of said oil under a pressure exceeding four atmospheres, at a temperature of not less than about 600 0., thereby producing a mixture comprising gases and vapors of both high and low boiling points, thereafter lowering both the temperature and pressure sufficiently to remove at least a portion of the fractions of high boiling points, thereafter increasing the pressure in the remaining gases and vapors, while the temperature of the same is above normal atmospheric temperature, and thereafter further lowering the temperature suficiently to condense the product.

16. A process of producing a motor fuel which comprises cracking a hydrocarbon oil underpressure materially above atmospheric, at a temperature of about 500 to 650 6.,

to form permanent gases and vapors of materials having'high boiling points, and un-' saturated hydrocarbon vapors, thereafter cooling such gases and vapors while at a pressure materially lower than that employed in the cracking operation, to a temperature of not above approximately 200 0., to remove materials having high boiling points, thereafter subjecting the remaining gases and vapors, while at a temperature of 100 to 200 C., to a pressure of not less than about pounds per square inch, and thereafter cooling the gases and vapors to condense the motor fuel.

17. 'A process of producing a motor fuel suitable for use in carbureters of internal combustion engines, from oil distillates having boiling points higher than ordinary gasolene, said process comprising first cracking said oil under a pressure of about 70 pounds per square inch, in the form of a flowing current, at a temperature materially above 500 (3., second lowering the temperature of the gases and vapors'to about 200 .C., while allowing the pressure to drop somewhat, third recompressing the gases and vapors to a pressure of at least 70 pounds per square inch while said gases and vapors are at a temperature materially above ordinary atmospheric temperature, and fourth, cooling the remaining gases and vapors under said pressure, to condense the motor fuel.

18. A process of producing a motor fuel which comprises cracking a hydrocarbon oil under a pressure materially above atmospheric, at a temperature of about 500 to 650 (3., toconvert a portion of the oil into fixed gases, and to produce vapors containing considerable percentages of unsaturated hydrocarbons, cooling the vapors and gases, while under a pressure materially below that employed in the cracking operation, sufl'ipressure of about '70 pounds per square inch,

lowering the pressure ofthe resulting gases and vapors, down to a pressure not greatly exceeding atmospher c cooling the gases and vapors to a temperature below 200 (1,

to separate the most readily condensable portions therefrom, recompressing the gases to a pressure of at least 70 pounds per square inch, and cooling the remaining gases and vapors, under said'pressure.

20. A process of producing a motor fuel, which comprises cracking a hydrocarbon oil under a pressure materially above atmospheric to produce gas and vapor, cooiing the gas and vapor while at a pressure materially below that used in the cracking operation, sufficiently to separate the materials of high boiling points; thereafter subjecting the resulting gases and vapors while at a temperature above atmospheric, to a pressure materially greater than that used in said first cooling operation, and thereafter further cooling the gases and vapors, under a pressure of several atmospheres.

21. A process of producing a motor fuel, which comprises cracking a hydrocarbon oil under pressure materially above atmospheric, to produce gas and vapor, cooling the gas and vapor while at a pressure materially below that used in the cracking operation, sufficiently to separate the materials of high boiling points; thereafter subjecting the resulting gases and vapors while at a temperature above ordinary atmospheric temperature, to a pressure ofnot less than 70 pounds per square inch, and thereafter cooling the gases and vapors under a pressure of several atmospheres.

22. A process of making a motor fuel, which comprises cracking a mineral oil under high pressure, at a temperature above 500 0., cooling the gases and vapors, whlle at a pressure materially below that used in the cracking operation, to a temperature of not over about 200 C., to separate out ma terials having high boiling points, further compressing the gases and vapors remaining from said cooling step while still in a heated condition, and cooling the gases and vapors while in said compresseds'tate, to condense out the motor fuel.

23. A process of producing a motor fuel from hydrocarbon oil consisting in cracking said oil under superatmospheric pressure at a temperature upward of 600 (3., thereby forming gases and vapor, reducing the pressure of the'gases and vapor and separating by fractional condensation that portion of the liquid which is non-volatile at a temperature of approximately 200 (1, re

compressing the remaining hot gases and vapors, and condensing them together under pressure to produce a liquid substantially as described. L

24. A process of producing a motor fuel which comprises passing a current of hydrocarbon oil at a pressure of about 70 pounds per square inch through a pressureresisting tortuous pipe, located in a furnace heated to approximately 600 (1, reducing the pressure of the gases and vapors, while cooling the same to a temperature of about 200 0., and removing the condensed materials; recompressing the gases and vapors while at said temperature, to a pressure of approximately 70 pounds per square inch, and thereafter cooling the gases and vapors to condense the motor fuel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM AUGUSTUS HALL.

Witnesses:

H. D. J AMESON, O. J. WORTH. 

